Steam-joint.



lVI. J. ROACH.

STEAM JOINT.

APPLlcATIoN man ocr. 16. 191,3.

Patented Apr. 113, 1915.

' @M672 J/Z/mf//foc/ ma i eras arena-r ineen0 MICHAEL J. B10110117, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES FURLONG, 0F ANDERSGN, INDIANA.

STEAM-JOINT.

Application filed Uetoncr 16, 1913.

To all erf/tom t maj] concern.'

Be it ltnown that T, Mier-Inni. J. Boiro/H, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anderson, in the county of Madison and State of lndiana, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovernents in Steam-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to steam joints and has for its primary object the provision of an improved steam joint which shall have improved means for admitting steam to a rotary steam chamber and` for exhausting therefrom water of condensation.

lWith the above and other objects in view, this invention consists substantially in the combination, arrangement, and construction of parts all as hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and show the preferred embodiment of my invention, and more particularly set forth in the subjoined claims.

Tn the drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my invention, showing it attached to a rotary steam chamber, the steam chamber being shown also in longitudinal section with parts broken away. Fig. 2 is a section taken approximately on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Reference numeral 10 indicates a preferably cylindrical rotary steam chamber provided at 11 with a hollow bearing and adapted to rotate upon a horizontal axis. A centrally tapped annulus 12 is secured to the outer end of the hollow bearing 11, and into the annulus is threaded one end of a cylindrical member 13, provided with a central steam passageway 14 and two exhaust passageways 15 and 16. .An approximately semispherical enlargement or head 17 is formed upon the outer end of the member 13 and exhaust passageways 18 and 19 communicate respectively with the passageways 15 and 16. A stationary head 20 encircles the outer end of the member 13 and is hollowed out to fit closely about the member 13 and its outer end 17. Three exhaust passageways, 21, 22, and 23, are provided in the head 2O and preferably in the lower portion thereof. These passageways communicate with a small chamber' 24 formed in the head 20 and an exhaust pipe 25 communicates with the chamber 24. The passageways 21, 22, and 23 intercommunicate, as

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr.. 13., 1915.

Serial No. 795,41*?.

shown at 26 and 27, and they are placed alternately in communication with the passageways 13 and 19 during the rotation of the member 13 in the stationary head 20. Two valved members 28 and 29 are threaded into tapped apertures provided in the head 20. These valve members are provided with handles 30 and lock nuts 31, and they may be operated to regulate the passage of fiuid from the member 13 to the exhaust pipe 25. The three exhaust passageways 21, 22, and 23 are in alinement in a plane at right angles to the axis of rotation of the cylindrical member 13, by reason of which construction each of the passageways 18 and 19 registers successively with these passages at each rotation of the steam chamber 1() and cylindrical member 13. The passageway 14 occupies the axial center of the member 13, and a cap 32, secured to the outer face of the head 20, bears a tapped central aperture 33 registering opposite the outer end of the passageway 14. A steam inlet pipe 34 is threaded into the central aperture of the cap 32. vWater pipes 35 and 3G communicate at one end with the inner ends of the passageways 15 and 16 respectively in the member 13 and have their inner ends protruding within the steam chamber 10 and terminating at points in close proximity to the outer wall of the member 10 and at diametrically opposite sides thereof. Two ratcheted slip-rings 37 and 33 encircle the cylindrical member 13 adjacent the inner end thereof and abut against the outer face of the annulus 12, while two packing rings 39 and 40 likewise encircle the member 13 and abut against the inner end of the head 20. A coil spring 41 is disposed about the central portion of the member 13 and exerts pressure against the outer surface of the ring` 38 and the inner surface of the ring 39. By this construction the escape of steam from my improved joint is prevented while at the same time provision is made for rotation of the chamber 10 and the parts carried thereby.

Tn the operation of my invention live steam enters through the pipe 34 and traversing the passageway 14 enters the interior of the steam chamber 10, which rotates continuously. During the rotation of the steam chamber the member 13 and the pipes 35 and 36 being in fixed relation thereto are carried about with the chamber and at each revolution a passageway for the outward flow of water of condensation from the interior of the chamber 10 to the exhaust pipe is opened through the registering of one of the exhaust passages 18 and 19 with the exhaust passageways 21, 22, and 23. 1t will be noted that an exhaust passageway from the interior of the chamber to the exhaust pipe 25 is opened when the inner end or' the pipe 3G, for instance, is at its lowermost position, by reason of which the water of condensation formed in the chamber 10 will surround the inner end of the pipe 86 (or the pipe 35 as the case may be) and while in this position the pressure of the steam irom within the chamber forces water of condensation through the pipe 36, the passageways 16, 19, and 22, and the chamber 21 to the exhaust pipe 25. 1t will be noted that the presence of three passageways in aline ment with the path of rotation of the passageways 1S and 19 provides considerable length of time in which water of condensation may pass outwardly through one of the .pipes 35 or 36 during the rotation of the chamber 10. 1n operation and under a given head of steam a deinite quantity of water of condensation will be formed within the chamber 10, under given working conditions, and the amount which should be emitted at each half revolution of the chamber 10 may be accurately gaged by manipulation of the valves 28 and 29. lVhen the proper adjustment of these valves has been secured a tightening of the lock nuts 31 will maintain them in the required position. 1t is to be noted that the escape of steam through either of the pipes 35 or 36 is prevented by reason of the fact that during the time communication is had between the interior of the chamber and the pipe 25 the inner end of one of the water pipes is immersed in the water of condensation, while the other pipe is closed entirely from communication with the pipe 25.V

1n the accompanying drawings and in the foregoing description is set forth the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is obvious that one skilled in the art may malte modilications thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 claim:

.1. The combination voli a rotary steam chamber, a cylindrical member at the axis of said chamber and adapted to be rotated there Tith, there being a steam supply passage and an exhaust passage extending through said cylindrical member, said exhaust passage having its outlet opening radially of the cylindrical member and its inlet opening adjacent the lateral wall of the chamber, a head in which said cylindrical member is mounted, said head being provided with a plurality of passages arranged close together and adapted to communicate successively with the outlet end of said exhaust passage when the inlet end of the exhaust passage is in its lowermost position, and means varying the time during which the outlet end of the exhaust passage re- 'nains open.

2. The combination of a rotary steam chamber, a cylindrical member at the axis of said chamber and adapted to be rotated therewith, there being a steam supply passage and an exhaust passage extending through said cylindrical member, said exhaust passage having its outlet opening radially of the cylindrical member and its inlet opening adjacent the lateral wall of the chamber, a head in which said cylindrical member is mounted, said head being pro vided with a plurality of passages arranged close together and adapted to communicate lsuccessively with the outlet end of said exhaust passage when the inlet end of the ex- .iaust passage is in its lowermost position, and a valve in said head and adapted to close certain of the passages in the head and shorten the time the outlet of the exhaust passage is open.

3. lThe combination of a steam chamber, rotatable about an approximately horizontal axis, and a device for connecting the interior of the chamber with the source of steam supply and with the exhaust, comprising a cylindrical member co-axially secured to the end of the steam chamber, provided with an axial inlet for live steam communicating with the source of steam supply and having exhaust passageways separate from the live steam passageway, an annular head formed upon the outer end of the cylindrical member and provided with radial exhaust passageways communicating with the exhaust passageways of the cylindrical member, a stationary head in which the outer end of the cylindrical member and the annular head are journaled and provided with a passageway which communicates with the exhaust and lies in the path of rotation of the exhaust passageways of the annular head, valved means of control for the passage of iuid through the stationary head exhaust passageway, means for holding the stationary head against the outer surface of the annular head of the cylindrical member to prevent escape oi steam, and water pipes secured to the inner ends of the exhaust passageways of the cylindrical member protruding within the steam chamber and terminating adjacent the outer wall thereof, the exhaust passageway in said stationary head being so positioned as to communicate successively with the individual water pipes only as each water pipe traverses the lovA er portion of its path of travel.

4f. The combination of a steam chamber rotatable about an approximately horizontal axis, a source of steam supply, an exhaust,

and a device for connecting the interior of the steam chamber with the source ot' steam supply and with the exhaust, comprising a ro-tatable member co-axially secured to the end of the steam chamber and rotatable therewith, provided with an axial inlet passage for live steam and having exhaust pas sageways separate from the steam inlet passageway, a stationary head in which the cylindrical member is journaled and having a plurality of exhaust passageways communicating with the exhaust disposed adjacent each other and in the path of travel of the radial ends of the exhaust passageways of the cylindrical member, Valved means of control for the exhaust passageways of the stationary head, and pipes connected to the inner ends of the exhaust passageways of the cylindrical member protruding within the steam chamber and terminating` adjacent its outer wall, said exhaust passageways in the stationary head being positioned to aiord communication between each individual pipe and the exhaust only during the travel of the individual pipe through the lower portion of its path or' rotation.

ln testimony whereof have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 30th day of September A. D. 1913.

11i I MICHAEL J. S EoAoi-i.

mark

lVitnesses:

THOMAS F. CORNELIUS, -PAUL B. CORNELIUS.

Copies of this patent may 'ne obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

